Method and apparatus for cleaning engine blocks and the like



Dec. 31, 1968 E. zADRoN ET Al. 4 3,419,429

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ENGINE BLOCKS AND THE LIKE Filed July l2, 1965 Sheet of 5 7M/z. ZADRo/r, ALTO 5. KsMMa/vr/,

INVENTOR-S:

mee/s, MECA@ asszu; fw

E. zADRoN ETAL 3,419,429

Sheet 2 of 5 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ENGINE BLOCKS AND THE LIKE #Mam INVENTORS.

Emu. zama/r, Aue 3K1.-

Dec. 31, A

Filed July l2, 1965 Dec. 3l, 1968 E. zADRoN ET Al. 3,419,429

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ENGINE BLOCKS AND THE LIKE Filed-July 12, 1965 Sheet 3 7M/z. ZAP/Q0@ ,41. raw 62 KEA/Maur@ INVENTORS.

BY THE/2 rrp/ove?! Elkay/s, 155%, .usseLL #IKE-'mv United States Patent O 3,419,429 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ENGINE BLOCKS AND THE LIKE Emil Zadron and Alton S. Kenmonth, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Jet-Clean Company, Beverly Hills, Calif., a limited partnership Filed July 12, 1965, Ser. No. 471,037 8 Claims. (Cl. 134-33) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A method and apparatus for cleaning engine blocks, comprising rotating the engine block while simultaneously spraying a cleaning fluid thereagainst through oscillating spraying devices located on opposite sides of the block. The spraying devices respectively spray fluid upwardly and downwardly against the block, and, during each complete revolution of the block, they oscillate a number of times which is not a whole number. Further, the spraying devices oscillate in opposite directions, so that one moves clockwise while the other moves counterclockwise, and vice versa. The foregoing relationships result in impingement of cleaning fluid on every internal and external surface of the block.

The cleaning fluid is recirculated and a filtering system removes foreign material, fines being retained in the fluid for their abrasive cleaning effect. A recirculating pump discharges part of its output into the reservoir to continually agitate the fluid therein to keep foreign matter in suspension and to prevent foaming of any soaps which may be formed. Part of the pump output is delivered to the spraying devices through a heater in the reservoir to apply the fluid to the block at a high temperature while maintaining the fluid delivered to the intake of the pump at a lower temperature to minimize cavitation problems.

Background of invention This invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning objects and more particularly to an apparatus for cleaning large irregularly shaped objects such as engine blocks. Although the cleaning apparatus is particularly adapted for the cleaning of engine blocks and the components thereof, and the specific embodiments refer to the cleaning of an engine block, it should be understood that various other objects may be cleaned with such apparatus. For example, crankshafts, cam shafts, connecting rods, oil pans, valve covers, plates, castings, and other workpieces may be cleaned with the apparatus described herein.

There are many dif'llculties inherent in the cleaning of engine blocks. For example, engine blocks are of irregular shape and contain many cavities Which are diflcult to clean by conventional cleaning devices particularly without continuous manual adjustment thereof. Thorough cleaning of engine blocks is made still more difficult by the many different kinds of foreign matter which may be adhered thereto such as carbon deposits, baked-on engine oil varnish, paint, soft grease, sand, and ordinary road dirt. Thus an engine block cleaning device should be capable of removing all of these various kinds of soil. Another problem is presented by certain cleaning fluids which are effective to remove at least some of these deposits and which when mingled with oil and greases to tend to foam, thereby making them more diflicult or impossible to pump under pressure to the spray nozzles of the cleaning device. Still another difliculty is that the relatively high weight of the engine block makes handling thereof extremely difficult during the cleaning operation.

3,419,429 Patented Dec. 31, 1968 Summary and objects of invention Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a cleaning apparatus which will automatically clean all parts of a large irregularly shaped object such as an engine block without manual adjustment of the components of the apparatus. All handling of the engine blocks other than loading and unloading from the cleaning apparatus is eliminated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus which will thoroughly remove all of the abovenoted foreign deposits frequently found on engine blocks.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus which will clean irregularly shaped objects much more rapidly than was possible heretofore.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus in which jets of cleaning fluid oscillating along arcuate paths are directed against a rotating engine block so that substantially all parts of the irregularly shaped engine block are struck by the streams of cleaning fluid. More particularly, it is an object of this invention to oscillate the jets of cleaning fluid through a number of cycles which is not a whole integer for every revolution made by the engine block. This allows the jets of cleaning fluid to strike different portions of the engine block during successive revolutions thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus which will rapidly and automatically clean all parts of an irregularly shaped object including the cavities contained therein. Still another object is to thoroughly clean an irregularly shaped object by causing jets of cleaning fluid to impinge against the object at varying angles and in overlapping paths.

More particularly, an object of this invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus which will impinge at least one jet of cleaning fluid against an irregularly shaped object along a line inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, oscillate such jet through an arc along a path inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, and provide at least one reovlution of relative rotation between the jet and the irregularly shaped object. Another object of the invention is to utilize a generally vertical header having a plurality of nozzles secured thereto, at least some of the nozzles secured thereto, at least some of the nozzles having axes which are inclined relative to a horizontal plane. By oscillating the header while rotating the irregularly shaped object the cleaning fluid is caused to impinge against the object at varying angles and in overlapping paths so as to assure that substantially all portions of the object including cavities therein will be contacted and cleaned by the cleaning fluid.

-An object of this invention is to provide an engine block cleaning apparatus in which the forces exerted by high-pressure oscillating streams yof cleaning fluid against the engine block are substantially balanced. More paricularly, the forces may be balanced, to some extent, by providing first and second rotatable headers on opposite sides o-f the engine block `and a plurality of nozzles on each of the headers. By inclining the nozzles so that the fluid streams emitted by the nozzles of one of the Iheaders generally oppose those emitted by the nozzles on the other of said headers, some force-balancing is produced. By oscillating the headers through a limited arc so that -when the first header rotates in a clockwise direction, the second header rotates in a counterclockwise direction and vice versa, additional force-balancing occurs. By use of such force-balancing means, the lateral forces acting on the engine block have a negligible effect on the relatively heavy block. Without such force-balancing, it would be necessary to anchor the engine block more securely to prevent it from being moved or tipped within the cleaning apparatus and additional driving force would be required to rotate the block.

Another object of this invention is to clean a rst engine block, thereby removing the particulate matter therefrom, and then clean a second engine block utilizing a mixture of cleaning fluid and at least some of the particles removed from the first engine block. Preferably the mixture is filtered so that only the smaller of the particles removed from the first engine block are used in cleaning the second engine block. The small particles produce an abrasive cleaning action as they strike the engine block, thereby more efiiciently removing more of the soil than is possible without such an abrasive action.

The cleaning fluid frequently used to clean engine blocks is a hot caustic material. Frequently, much of the foreign matter removed from the engine block is in the form of oil or grease deposits. The hot caustic is sprayed against the engine block to remove the oily deposits and then the hot caustic and the grease and oils which have been removed are fed to a chamber within the cleaning apparatus where at least some of the foreign matter is liltered from the cleaning uid. The filtered cleaning fluid is then pumped to the cleaning section of the apparatus where it is reutilized in cleaning another engine block. A serious problem arises in the chamber when the caustic contacts and is mixed with the oil and grease deposits removed from the engine. Such contact produces a soap which forms a foam in the tank which, if uncontrolled, may overflow the tank and cause the pump to cavitate. Furthermore, it is desirable to heat the caustic material in the chamber, thereby further aggravating the pump cavitation problem.

Accordingly, another object of this invention is to reduce the foaming of the cleaning uid by dispersing the foreign matter which has been removed from the engine block throughout the cleaning fluid. Thus, rather than letting the foreign matter settle to the bottom of the chamber, it is agitated to disperse it throughout the cleaning fluid. It has been found that such dispersion of the foreign matter eliminates the foaming problem.

A particular object of this invention is to eliminate the foaming of the cleaning uid by disposing a perforated pipe within the chamber and connecting such pipe to the outlet side of the pump for recirculating a portion of the cleaning mixture to the chamber t hydraulically agitate the fluid contained therein. In addition to eliminating the foaming problem, such agitation disperses the particulate matter throughout the cleaning fluid so that it can be pumped through the nozzles along with the cleaning fluid to act as an abrasive cleaning agent.

Another object of this invention is to further reduce the possibility of pump cavitation by increasing the temperature of the'cleaning fluid downstream from the pump outlet.

The workpiece is cleaned by the hot caustic cleaning uid. The cleaning action is improved as the temperature of the caustic solution is increased and made still more effective by jetting the hot caustic against the workpiece under pressure. However, increasing the temperature of the hot caustic reduces the vapor pressure of the cleaning r'uid, thereby reducing the threshold of cavitation of the pump. Thus, it is very important to maintain the temperature of the hot caustic upstream from the pump inlet below the pump cavitation point and to increase the temperature of the hot caustic material downstream from the pump discharge.

A further object of this invention is to provide a compact package engine block cleaning apparatus including a housing having a chamber for holding a cleaning Huid and a cleaning section communicating with the chamber through an opening in the cleaning section; means for holding the engine block within the cleaning section; a plurality of nozzles within the cleaning section for directing streams of the cleaning fluid against the block to remove particles of soil therefrom; means for pumping the cleaning uid from the chamber to the nozzles, the cleaning fluid directed against the object and the particles removed therefrom owing through the opening into the chamber', and a plurality of upwardly facing nested basket filters in the chamber communicating with the opening for filtering at least some of the particles from the cleaning fluid. In addition to making the unit more compact, the basket filters retain much of the foreign matter, thereby facilitating cleaning of the units.

It is an object of this invention to provide an engine block cleaning apparatus having a plurality of aligned cleaning sections for simultaneously cleaning a plurality of engine blocks.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Description of drawings In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along line 1-1 in FIG. 2 showing an engine block cleaning apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1 and showing the cleaning section and the nested baskets of the cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. l showing a pin for engaging a recess in the engine block to assist in securing the latter to the carriage;

FIG. 3a is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a modified form of pin;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4 4 in FIG. 1 and showing means for holding the engine block to the carriage;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged yfragmentary sectional view taken along line 5--5 in FIG. l showing one of the spray headers;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6 6 in FIG. 2 and showing a linkage for interconnecting the spray headers;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 1 and showing the chamber of the cleaning apparatus; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view partially in section of another embodiment of engine block cleaning apparatus which is capable of simultaneously cleaning a plurality of engine blocks.

Detailed description of exemplary embodiments of invention Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. l thereof, reference numeral 11 designates an engine block cleaning apparatus which includes a housing 13 having a chamber section or tank 15 for holding a cleaning fluid or solution 17 (FIG. 7) and a cleaning section 19 communicating with the chamber section 15 through an opening 21 (FIG. 2). Both the chamber section 15 and the cleaning section 19 are cylindrical with the cleaning section being of smaller diameter and disposed on top of and tangent to the chamber section. The upper end of the chamber section 15 is closed by a plate 22 and a sector-shaped lid- 23 is hinged to the plate to provide access to the interior of the chamber section.

A track 24 is disposed on the plate 22 and the lid 23 and extends from an area outside the periphery of the chamber section 15 to within the cleaning section 19. The track 24 may also be appropriately hinged to move upwardly with the lid 23. A carriage 25 including four wheels 26 is mounted for movement along the track 24. A door 26a on the cleaning section 19 may be swung open to allow the carriage to move into and out of the cleaning section. The carriage 25 also includes a rotatable support member 27 which is mounted for rotation about streams would tend to tip or move the engine block within the cleaning section 19.

A fixed manifold 72 connects the headers 54 and 55 with a source of cleaning lluid 17 supplied under pressure. The manifold 72 is threadedly received by the tubular members 56. The nozzles 71a direct jets of cleaning huid upwardly between the spokes 32 of the rotatable support member 27 to assist in cleaning the bottom and lower regions of the engine block. The special angle nozzle 66 and the horizontal nozzle 67 do not substantially upset the force-balancing accomplished by the critically directed nozzles 65 and 71.

Although the use of two opposed headers is preferred, it should be understood that any suitable number of headers may be employed. If desired, several rows of nozzles ejecting uid streams in one or more directions may be provided on each of the headers. Also, one or more of the header extensions 68 may be provided on the headers 54 and 55.

Means (FIG. 6) is provided to rotate and oscillate the nozzles and the headers 54 and 55 along predetermined arcuate paths for causing the cleaning iiuid 17 to strike various portions of the objects and at varying angles of impingement in the same area. Such means includes a motor 75 driving an adjustable crank 76, a link 77, a generally L-shaped driving link 7S, a connecting member 79, and a second driving link 81. The motor 75 is mounted on a bracket 82 secured to the cleaning section 19 and may be of the variable speed type or may drive a variable or lixed speed transmission (not shown) which in turn imparts rotation to the crank 76. The driving links 78 and 81 are rigidly secured to the headers 54 and 55, respectively, and are pivotally connected to the connecting member 79, the link 78 also being pivotally connected to the link 77. It is apparent that rotation of the motor 75 will cause oscillation of the headers 54 and 55. The length of the arc of rotation may be manually adjusted by securing the link 77 to any one of a plurality of fastening means 83 on the crank 76. Oscillation of the nozzles through an arcuate pattern provides comprehensive coverage of the rotating engine block.

The rotating and oscillating means will cause the header 54 to rotate in a clockwise direction when the header S5 is rotating in a counterclockwise direction and will cause the header 54 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction when the header 55 is rotating in a clockwise direction. The nozzles in the headers 54 and 55 have a dead center position in which the uid jets emitted from the nozzles are all in substantially the same plane, such plane also preferably including the longitudinal or central axes of the cleaning section 19 and the member 25. As the motor 75 continues its rotation, the nozzles on each of the headers 54 and 55 preferably rotate in the same direction, e.g. generally upwardly as viewed in FIG. 6 and at the same rate from the dead center position. The purpose of rotating and oscillating the headers 54 and 55 together in this fashion is to reduce the force acting on the engine block tending to resist rotation thereof with the support member 27. That is, if the nozzles were to oscillate so that they would exert a couple on the engine block a motor 52 having a greater horsepower would be required to rotate the support member 27. Furthermore, by oscillating the nozzles in the manner described above, the force from the uid jets that would otherwise tend to tip or move the engine block is substantially reduced.

For all-purpose work it has been found that rapidly oscillating the headers approximately l2 to 15 cycles per minute while rotating the support member 27 and the engine block once every two minutes produces optimum results. The arc through which the headers 54 and 55 are oscillated is preferably about 60. At the extremities of the cycle the jets of cleaning iluid are preferably about tangent to the object 27a. Of course, the speed of rotation of the support member 27, the speed of oscillation of the headers 54 and 55, and the length of the arc through lll which the headers oscillate may all be appropriately varied to suit particular cleaning requirements of the specific object which is being cleaned. Oscillation through a 60 cycle (30 on each side of the dead center position) has only a slight effect on force-balancing of the fluid streams.

An important feature of this invention is that the nozzles on the headers 54` and 55 preferably oscillate through a number of cycles which is not a whole number while the support member is rotated through one revolution. By operating in this manner, the jets of cleaning fluid strike different portions of the engine block during each successive rotation of the support member 27. By way of illustration, after ve to seven rotations of the support member 27 substantially every point on the surface of the engine block will have been subjected to a direct or close blasting of the jets of cleaning Huid. Thus, an entire engine block may be cleaned without manual adjustment of the nozzles. In some instances an entire engine block may be thoroughly cleaned in two minutes. Still another advantage of rapid oscillation of the nozzles and4 slow rotation of the support member 27 is to insure that each of the jets of cleaning lluid will strike directly against the surface of the engine block rather than impinging against spent huid from an adjacent or opposed nozzle, thereby dissipating much of the energy of the jet prior to the time the jet strikes the engine block.

The primary advantage of this invention is the rapid and thorough cleaning of the engine block which is brought about by the jets of cleaning lluid which strike the engine block at varying angles and in overlapping lpaths as the headers oscillate and the engine block rotates. This etect is achieved in part by the movement of the cleaning jets through an arc and the rotation of the object, Coverage of the engine block with cleaning fluid is further improved by impinging each jet of cleaning huid, against the object along a line which is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, each jet being oscillated through an arc and in a pattern inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. Thus, each jet strikes the object at varying angles and describes a generally arcuate path along the object. As oscillation of the headers and rotation of the object continue, these paths overlap and cover substantially all areas of the engine block. Because the nozzles 65 and 71 are inclined as described above, they strike the object at varying angles during each cycle of oscillation and cause the cleaning lluid to swirl through cavities, thereby thoroughly cleaning beneath overhangs and in the various concavities of the irregularly shaped object.

The upper and lower ends of the object 27a are cleaned by the extensions 68 and 70", respectively. The extensions 68 and 70 oscillate with their respective headers and the jets emitting therefrom describe radial arcs on the ends of the object 27a. Because the objects 27a is rotating, these radial paths intersect and completely cover the ends thereof.

Because the oscillation of the headers 54 and 55 is produced 'by a crank and connecting rod motion, it is sinusoidal in character, thus causing the headers to travel relatively fast adjacent the dead center position and relatively slowly adjacent each extremity of the cycle. Conversely, the successive cleaning paths of the fluid jets are closer together adjacent the dead center position and farthest apart adjacent the extremities of the cycle. Thus, the crank and connecting rod means for oscillating the headers 54 and 55 compensates for the variation in jet pattern appearing at various portions of the cycle.

In addition, there is a substantial period of dwell at each extremity of each cycle of oscillation, thereby allowing the object 27a to rotate slightly so that on the return portion of the cycle, the jet path will 'be spaced slightly from the path described on the initial portion of the cycle.

A similar compensating effect occurs at the ends of the a generally vertical rotational axis by a plurality of rollers 28. The member 27 is prevented from slipping off the rollers 28 =by a plurality of fingers 29. The rotatable support member 27 includes a ring 31 and a plurality of spokes 32 extending inwardly from the ring and welded to an off-center bushing 33.

A lug 33a, a exible member 3311, and a locking rod 33e are secured to the track 24 for locking the carriage 25 near the end of the track 24 outside of the cleaning section 19. A hinged arm 33d (FIG. 1) is provided within the cleaning section 19 to lock the carriage at a predetermined position therein.

The support member 27 supports an engine block or workpiece 27a which is to be cleaned. Means are provided to secure the engine block to the support member 27. Such means include a pin 34 (FIG. 3) received by the bushing 33 and adapted to enter a cavity in the engine block.

FIG. 3a shows a pin 35 having a flange 36, the pin 35 being receivable by a cavity in the engine =block in the same manner as the pin 34.

The means for securing the engine block to the support member 27 also includes the device shown in FIG. 4. Two of rods 37 and 38 (FIGS. 1 and 2) are pivotally secure-d to the support member 27 and extend upwardly therefrom. Stops (not shown) may be provided to limit inward pivotal movement of the rods 37 and 38. A leg 39 (FIG. 4) having a canted aperture 41 extending therethrough for receiving the rod 37 is pivotally connected to a thin flat lever `42. Another leg 39 (FIG. 2) is similarly secured to the other end of the lever 42 and has a canted aperture for receiving the rod 38. A rotatable cam 43 is mounted on a bracket 44 secured to the lever 42 and engages a plate 45 having a canted aperture 46 extending therethrough. The cam 43 has a fiat portion 47 which is slightly over center. A spring 48 urges the plate 45 upwardly into engagement with the cam 43. A hold-down shaft 49 is received by the canted aperture 46 and slidably received by an aperture in the lever 42.

To secure the engine block to the carriage 25, the lever 42 and the legs 39 are lowered along the rods 37 and 38 until the hold-down shaft 49 contacts the engine block. The cam 43 is then rotated until the flat portion 47 engages the plate 45. Such rotation of the cam 43 causes the walls of the canted aperture 46 to frictionally and lockingly engage the hold-down shaft 49, thereby urging the latter downwardly .into firm engagement with the engine block. Rotation of the cam 43 also urges the lever 42 upwardly. However, substantial upward movement of the lever 42 is prevented by the frictional and locking engagement of the walls of the canted apertures 41 of the legs 39 with the rods 37 and 38. The lever 42 will bend slightly to accommodate over-travel of the cam 43. Accordingly, the hold-down shaft 49 urges the engine block downwardly against the carriage 25. Thus, the engine block is prevented from moving off the pin 34.

Fixtures (not shown) of various designs may be provided to hold several workpieces such as crankshafts, oil pans, etc. for cleaning. The design of the fixture will depend on the shape and size of the workpiece. When such fixtures are used, they may be secured to the carriage 25 in the same manner as the engine block.

Friction drive means is provided for rotating the support member 27. Such means include a rotatable friction drive member 51 which engages the ring 31 of the support member 27. The drive member 51 may be coated with rubber or other material having a high coeflicient of friction and is driven by a. motor 52 through a V-belt 53. The arm 33d is provided within the cleaning section 19 for locking the carriage therein with the ring 31 in engagement with the drive member 51. Thus, rotation of the drive member 51 rotates the support member 27 and the engine block secured thereto.

Means is provided for emitting streams of the cleaning fluid 17 against the engine block in the cleaning section 19. Such means preferably includes two generally vertical header members 54 and 55 rotatably mounted to the plate 22 for oscillation about generally vertical axes and disposed on opposite sides of the support member 27 (FIG. 2). Each of the header members 54 and 55 is rotatably mounted as illustrated in FIG. 5. A tubular member 56 is secured to the plate 22 and has a counterbore 57 for receiving an end of the header 54. An annular sealing element 58 is disposed between the header and the walls of the counterbore and a bushing 59 receives the header and is threadedly received in the counterbore 57 to secure the annular seal 58 therein. The header 54 is allowed to oscillate relative to the seal 58 and the bushing 59 and the seal 58 prevents leakage between the header 54 and the tubular member 56.

`A similar type of rotary seal seals the upper end of the header 54. Thus, the upper end of the header 54 is received by a bushing 61, an annular seal 62, and a cap 63 which serve to mount the header for rotation and seal off the upper end thereof. The cap 63 is suitably secured as by welding to a plate member 64 in the upper end of the cleaning section 19. The header 55 is mounted for rotation in the same manner as the header 54.

Again referring particularly to FIG. 2, a plurality of nozzles 65 is threadedly secured to the header 54 and inclined downwardly at a given angle from a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the header, the plane being horizontal in the preferred embodiment. An angle of up to about 15 has been found particularly satisfactory and an angle of about 15 is preferred. Preferably, all of the nozzles 65 extend downwardly at the same angle and are fixed relative to the header as no adjustment thereof is required. A special angle nozzle 66 may also be provided which extends downwardly at a different angle and a horizontal nozzle 67 may also be provided. The nozzles 66 and 67 are preferably offset horizontally from the plane into which the nozzles 65 emit their jets to avoid interference therewith. The nozzles 66 and 67 are provided to direct streams of cleaning iluid into otherwise relatively inaccessible areas. The header 54 includes a horizontal overhead extension 68 which carries a plurality of nozzles 69 which are directed downwardly toward the object 27a. Preferably the nozzles 69 are inclined downwardly from a horizontal plane at an angle of about 60. All of the nozzles 65, 67, and 69 eject fluid streams into the same plane.

The header 55 has a lower horizontal extension 70 and a plurality of nozzles 71 directed upwardly at an angle equal to the angle at which the nozzles 65 are directed downwardly. The extension 7 t) carries a plurality of nozzles 71a which extend upwardly toward the object 27a preferably at an angle of about 60. If desired, the header 55 may also have horizontal nozzles and special angle nozzles. The nozzles may be of any suitable design and may be appropriate apertures in the walls of the headers 54 and 55.

Inclining the nozzles 65 and 71 downwardly and upwardly at the same angle relative to their respective headers serves two important functions. First, providing nozzles at various angles insures that all cavities and other relatively inaccessible areas of the engine block will be directly contacted by the streams of the cleaning fluid emitted from the nozzles. Secondly, the angular relationship between the nozzles 65 and 71 allows the nozzles 71 to emit uid streams generally in opposition to the fluid streams emitted from the nozzles 65; i.e., the force exerted by the fluid streams from the nozzles 65 is substantially cancelled or balanced by the force of the jets emitting from the nozzles 71. As the fluid streams emitted by the nozzles may be under high pressure, if it were not for this force-balancing eifect it would require considerably greater driving force to rotate the supporting member 27 and the engine block. In addition, without such force-balancing, the respective lluid object 27a. Thus, the innermost nozzles of the nozzles 69 and 71a travel with the greatest tangential velocity; however, such innermost nozzles direct jets against the inner portions of the engine blocks which travel at a relatively slow tangential velocity, thereby compensating for the relatively great tangential velocity of the innermost nozzles.

As mentioned hereinabove, it is desirable to filter and reuse the cleaning fluid. Thus, the cleaning fluid 17 after impinging against the engine block flows or drains downwardly through the opening 21 (FIG. 2) into the chamber section 15. Much of the grease, oil, small pieces of metal, etc. flow to the chamber section 15 with the cleaning fluid 17. In order that the cleaning uid may be reused, it is necessary to filter out at least many of the larger particles removed from the engine block. To accomplish this two upwardly facing nested basket filters 84 and 85 are provided (FIG. 2). A peripheral flange 86 on the filter 85 supports the filter 85 on a retaining member 87. The basket 84 is supported on the flange 86 by a peripheral flange 88. Imperforate trays 89 and 91 form the bottom of the filters 84 and 85, respectively. The filter 84 is preferably quite coarse and catches only the larger particles with the filter 85 retaining some of the smaller particles; for example, down to approximately one-sixteenth inch. A plurality of rods or cables 92 (FIG. 1) is secured to the flange 86 at one end and to a ring 93 at the other end. Another ring 94 (FIG. 2) is Secured to the plate 64 at the upper end of the cleaning section 19. By using a cable and the rings 93 and 94 the basket filters 84 and 85 may be inserted into the chamber section 15 and removed therefrom. As indicated hereinabove, one object of this invention is to provide a compact engine block cleaning apparatus The nested basket filters S4 and 85 contribute to the compactness of the cleaning apparatus 11 as they provide a large filtering area in a relatively small volume. They also facilitate cleaning of the chamber section 15 as the particles and sludge retained thereby may be removed merely by hoisting baskets out of the chamber section 15. If ordinary planar filters were used, much of the sludge and particles removed in the cleaning process would be allowed to accumulate on the bottom of the chamber section 15, thereby making it necessary to clean the chamber section much more frequently than is required when the basket filters 84 and 85 are used.

After the cleaning fluid 17 has left the basket filters 84 and 85, it flows around the left side of the chamber section 15 (as viewed in FIG. l). The cleaning fluid 17 is drawn in this direction by a pump 95 which is connected to the manifold 72 by a discharge line 96 (FIG. 7). The cleaning fluid 17 is prevented from flowing from the basket filters 84 to the right (as viewed in FIG. 1) toward the pump 9S by a heater 97 (FIGS. 1 and 7).

The heater 97 includes a lower baffle 98, an upper bafile 99, a firebox 101, a continuous burner 102, a main burner 103, and a flue 104. The continuous burner 102 maintains the fluid in the chamber section 15 at a selected temperature of, for example, about 160 F.

The main burner 103 is controlled by a solenoid valve 105 on a fuel line 106 and is connected in series with the pump 95 so that the fuel is only allowed to flow to the main burner when the pump is operating. By way of illustration, the main burner 103 can rapidly increase the temperature of the fluid in the chamber section 15 from about 160 F. to about 200 F. An ordinary thermostatic control (not shown) prevents the main burner 103 from increasing the temperature of the fluid in the chamber section 15 above the cavitation temperature of the pump 95. In operation, the hot gases produced by the burners 102 and 103 flow through the lower baffle 98 to the upper baille 99 and then out through the flue 104. As the hot gases flow through the baflles 98 and 99, they give off heat to the cleaning fluid 17 An irregularly shaped baille 107 (FIG. l) causes the cleaning fluid 17 to be directed against the firebox 101, the hottest part of the heater 97, just prior to entering an inlet 108 of the pump 95.

A final filter 109 which may be of the order of .030 to about .035 mesh is disposed immediately upstream of the pump inlet 108 to filter out some of the smaller particles in the cleaning fluid 17. The filter 109 is inclined from the bottom of the tank 15 upwardly and away from the pump inlet 108 as illustrated in FIG. 7 and is bounded laterally by the side wall of the chamber section 15 and the heater 97. The small particles trapped by the filter 109 tend to adhere to the underside thereof and, during periods of idleness of the pump 97, Such particles tend to fall off the inclined filter toward the bottom of the chamber section 15. Thus, the final filter 109 has a self-cleaning action. The final filter 109 may be removed and cleaned by opening the lid 23.

Heating of the cleaning fluid 17 increases its effectiveness as a cleaning agent. Problems of pump cavitation are inherent in attempting to pump warm fluids. To overcome this problem, the pump inlet 108 is enlarged. In addition, the discharge line 96 from the pump passes through the upper heater baflle 99 to increase the temperature of the cleaning fluid carried therein. As such increase in temperature occurs downstream from the pump outlet, such increase in temperature is obtained without increasing the likelihood of pump cavitation.

The preferred cleaning fluid 17 is a caustic solution. The level of the cleaning fluid within the chamber section 15 is maintained by a liquid-level controller 111 preferably of the float type illustrated in FIGS. l and 7. The liquid level controller 111 may operate a water valve (not shown) which will add water to the chamber section 15 to maintain the liquid therein at the desired level.

The soil and grit removed from the engine blocks include greases and oils. When these greases and oils mix with the caustic cleaning solution 17 in the chamber section 15, soap is produced. The soap forms a foam on top of the cleaning fluid in the tank 15 which, when uncontrolled, may overflow the tank, wasting chemicals, and may even cause the pump to cavitate. It has been found that by dispersing the material removed from the engine blocks which would normally settle to the bottom of the tank 15 throughout the cleaning solution 17, this foaming problem is eliminated.

In the specific embodiment illustrated, this dispersion is caused by a hydraulic agitator which includes an arcuate perforated pipe 112 (FIGS. 1 and 7) lying along the bottom of the tank. The perforated pipe is connected to the discharge line 96 through a valve 113 and recirculates a portion of the cleaning solution back to the bottom of the chamber section 15 to agitate the cleaning solution contained therein. The fluid discharged by the perforations in the pipe 112 hydraulicallyagitates the sludge and abrasive particles which tend to settle in the tank 15 and disperses them throughout the cleaning solution 17. It is this dispersion which has been found to be very effective in lcontrolling the foaming problem.

This agitation performs another valuable function. The fine abrasive particles which pass through the final filter 109 are dispersed throughout the cleaning fluid 17 and accordingly pass through the pump 95, the discharge line 96, and the nozzles on the headers 54 and 55 and strike the `engine block which is being cleaned. These fine particles serve as an abrasive cleaning agent which assist in quickly and efliciently cleaning the engine block. Although hydraulic agitation is preferred because of its simplicity, a mechanical agitation may also be used.

In utilizing the engine block cleaning apparatus 11, the engine block 27a is secured to the support member 27 on the carriage 25 which is preferably positioned outside of the cleaning ysection 19 on the track 24. The engin-e block is quickly and rigidly secured to the support member 27 by the pins of FIGS. 3 or 3a and the holddown apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4. The carriage 25 is then urged manually into the cleaning section 19 where it may be secured in position with the ring 31 engaging the friction drive member 51. The door 26a of the cleaning section 19 is then closed and the motors 52 and 75 are energized to rotate the supporting member 27 and to oscillate the headers 54, 55, respectively. The pump 95 is also started to cause the cleaning solution 17 to flow through the nozzles on the headers 54 and 55 to clean the engine block. The heater v97, the perforated pipe 112 and the filtering means function as described hereinabove to eliminate foaming and to Supply a cleaning fluid cntaining small abrasive particles. When the engine block has been cleaned, the motors 52 and 75 and the pump 95 are shut down, the door 26a is opened and the carriage 25 pulled rearwardly or outwardly along the track 24 t0 remove the motor block from the cleaning section 19. The operation is then repeated using a second engine block.

For some applications, it is desirable to utilize a multiple unit 115 (FIG. 8) which is capable of simultaneously cleaning a plurality of engine blocks or other workpieces. The multiple unit 115 includes a rectangular cleaning section 119 with a plurality of aligned cleaning units 116 and 117 therein. The cleaning units 116 and 117 include components which are substantially identical to the corresponding elements contained within the cleaning section 17 and are designated by corresponding reference numerals.

The friction drive members 51 are positioned at the right-hand side of the cleaning section 119 in lieu of at the end as shown in FIG. l. Only one motor 75 is required to drive the headers 54 and 55 as the connecting members 79 are secured together by a link 118 which causes simultaneous Oscillation of the headers in the cleaning units 116 and 117. Likewise, only one pump 95 is required to feed the headers 54 and 55 of the two cleaning units. If desired, a single motor may be used to rotate all of the engine blocks in the cleaning units 116 and 117.

The multiple unit 115 has a tank 121 which is rectangular and which contains the same components as the tank 15. Only one set of basket iilters 84 and S5 is provided. A suitable tray or trough may be provided to guide the cleaning uid from the cleaning unit 116 to the cleaning unit 117 where it may fall into the basket litters 84 and 85. The multiple unit 115 includes a second inclined filter 120 which like the lter 109 is inclined from the bottom of the tank upwardly and upstream.

On top of the tank 121, alongside the cleaning section 119 is a storage track 122 on which a plurality of the carriages carrying engine blocks (not shown) may `be placed while the cleaning apparatus is operating to await their respective turns in the cleaning section.

At one end of the cleaning section 119 is a loading track 123 on which a cross track 12s is mounted for movement. On the opposite end of tne cleaning section 119 is an unloading track 125 on which a second cross track 126 is mounted for movement.

In operation of the multiple unit, the cross track 124 is moved until it is aligned with the storage track 122 so that one of the carriages 25 may be pushed thereon. The cross track 124 is then moved along the track 123 to a position in which it is aligned with the track 24 of the cleaning section 119. A door (not shown) of the cleaning section 119 is opened and the carriage 25 may be pushed therethrough to the cleaning unit 117. The movable cross track 124 may then make a second trip to the storage track 122 to pick up a second carriage 25 with an engine block thereon and move it to the cleaning unit 116. The door of the cleaning section 119 is then closed and the pump 95, the motor 75, and the two motors 52 are then turned on to accomplish the cleaning function in substantially the same manner as described hereinabove in connection with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-7. When the washing cycle is completed, a second door (not shown) on the cleaning section 119 is opened and the carriage 25 carrying an engine block cleaned by the cleaning unit 117 is pushed out onto the cross track 126. The cross track 126 is then moved to the left as viewed in FIG. v8 to an appropriate station at which the engine block on the carriage 25 may be removed. The cross track 126 then makes a second trip to receive the carriage 25 from the cleaning unit 116. Meanwhile, the cross track 124 may be operated to load the cleaning section 119 with uncleaned engine blocks.

In all other respects, the multiple unit is identical with the cleaning apparatus 11. For example, the nozzles on the headers 54 and 55 and the agitator means in the embodiment of FIG. 8 function the same as the corresponding elements in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7.

Although two of the cleaning units have been illustrated on the multiple unit 115, it should be understood that other numbers thereof may be provided. Also, the cleaning units on the multiple unit 115 need not be positioned end-to-end in straight-line relationship but may be in side-by-side or staggered relationship.

The electiveness of a cleaning unit increases with an increase in temperature of the cleaning iluid, an increase in pressure of the fluid, and also with increased coverage of the object being cleaned. A cleaning apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention provides excellent coverage of the workpiece even though such workpiece may be of irregular shape and contain numerous cavities. The temperature of the cleaning fluid is also very high and usually above the cavitation temperature of the pump because -heat is added thereto downstream from the pump discharge. The cleaning apparatus 11 also emits jets of cleaning uid under pressure and if desired may supply these jets at high pressure, i.e. 500 p.s.i. and above.

Various changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an apparatus for cleaning an object, the combination of:

(a) a supporting structure;

(b) supporting means for the object carried by said supporting structure;

(c) oscillatory spraying means carried by said supporting structure for spraying cleaning liuid against one side of the object;

(d) means for oscillating said spraying means to cause the cleaning tiuid to impinge on various portions of said one side of the object and from various angles',

(e) said supporting means and said spraying means being relatively rotatable about an axis through said supporting means to present all sides of the object to said spraying means; and

() means for relatively rotating said supporting means and said spraying means about said axis as said spraying means is oscillated to cause said spraying means to spray cleaning fluid against all portions of all sides of the object.

2. A cleaning apparatus as dened in claim 1 including means for oscillating said spraying means, during each complete revolution of relative rotation between said supporting means and said spraying means about said axis, a number of times which is not a whole number.

3. A method of cleaning an object, including the steps of:

(a) spraying jets ot cleaning fluid against one side ot the object;

(b) simultaneously relatively rotating the object and the jets oi cleaning uid to present all sides of the object to the jets of cleaning fluid; and

(c) simultaneously oscillating the jets of cleaning liuid a number of times, during each complete revolution of relative rotation between the object and the jets of cleaning fluid, which is not a whole number.

4. In an apparatus for cleaning an object, the combination of:

(a) a supporting structure;

(b) rotary supporting means for the object carried by the supporting structure;

(c) means for rotating said supporting means;

(d) two oscillatory spraying means carried by said supporting structure, on opposite sides of said supporting means, for Ispraying cleaning fluid against opposite sides of the object; and

(e) means for oscillating said spraying means in opposite directions, so that one moves clockwise while the other moves counterclockwise, and vice versa.

5. In an apparatus for cleaning an object, the combination of (a) a supporting structure;

(b) rotary supporting means for the object carried by said supporting structure and rotatable relative thereto about a generally vertical axis;

(c) means for rotating said supporting means;

(d) oscillatory spraying means carried by said supporting structure, and oscillatory about a generally vertical axis, for spraying cleaning fluid against the object;

(e) said spraying means including vertically spaced spray nozzles inclined from the horizontal; and

(f) means for oscillating said spraying means.

6. In an apparatus for cleaning an object, the combination of:

(a) a supporting structure;

(b) rotary supporting means for the object carried by said supporting structure and rotatable relative thereto about a generally vertical axis;

(c) means for rotating said supporting means;

(d) two oscillatory spraying means carried by said supporting structure on opposite sides of said supporting means, and oscillatory relative to said Supporting structure about generally vertical axes, for spraying cleaning fluid against the object;

(e) one of said spraying means including vertically spaced nozzles which are downwardly directed;

(f) the other of said spraying means including vertically spaced nozzles which are upwardly directed; and

(g) means for oscillating said spraying means.

7. In an apparatus for cleaning an object, the cornbination of:

(a) a supporting structure;

(b) supporting means for the object carried by said supporting structure; (c) spraying means carried by said supporting structure for spraying cleaning fluid against the object; (d) a reservoir below said supporting means for receiving cleaning uid sprayed onto the object;

(e) a pump having an inlet communicating with said reservoir and having an outlet;

(f) conduit means connecting said outlet of said pump to said spraying means; and

(g) hydraulic agitator means in said reservoir and connected to said outlet of said pump for discharging a portion of the cleaning uid pumped by said pump into said reservoir to agitate the cleaning fluid therein.

8. In an apparatus for cleaning an object, the combination of:

(a) a supporting structure;

(b) supporting means for the object carried by said supporting structure; (c) spraying means `carried by said supporting structure for spraying cleaning fluid against the object; (d) a reservoir below said supporting means for receiving cleaning fluid sprayed onto the object;

(e) a pump having an inlet communicating with said reservoir and having an outlet;

(f) conduit means connecting said outlet of said pump to said spraying means; and

(g) heating means in said reservoir and adjacent said conduit means for heating the cleaning fluid in said reservoir and for further heating the cleaning uid flowing through said conduit means .to said spraying means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,899,657 2/1933 Zademach 134-107 X 2,258,562 10/1941 Arey et al 134-143 X 2,597,132 5/1952 Smith 134-199 X FOREIGN PATENTS 742,894 1/ 1956 Great Britain.

DONALL H. SYLVESTER, Primary Examiner. A. D. KELLOGG, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 134-104, 107, 110, 121,144,149 

